Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Congress Protests Across India Demand CEC’s Removal Over SIR
The Congress party held demonstrations in many parts of India.
It wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
The party also wants a voter-list updating exercise called the SIR to be stopped.
Congress says the exercise is illegal and could unfairly change voter lists.
In some cities, police used water cannons or detained protesters.
In another city, protesters burned an effigy during the demonstration.
Congress leaders also demanded that Kumar face prosecution.
One report said the protests mostly involved Congress supporters and attracted little visible participation from the general public.
Congress held protests across several Indian states demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and removal.
The party called for scrapping the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging it was illegal and biased.
Protests included water-cannon confrontations in Jaipur and Bhopal, effigy burning in Vijayawada, and detentions in Surat.
Demonstrations were reported in places including Hyderabad, Patna, Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Malappuram and Ranchi.
Congress cited reported objections by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, while one report said visible public participation was limited.
- Who
- The Indian National Congress organized the protests, with participation from Congress leaders and, in some locations, the Communist Party of India and affiliated organizations.
- What
- Protesters demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation or removal and called for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls to be scrapped.
- When
- The protests took place on Monday; the articles do not provide a specific date.
- Where
- Demonstrations were reported across several states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Jharkhand, as well as in Pune, Nagpur and Kolhapur.
- Why
- Congress alleged that the SIR involved illegal changes to electoral rolls, that the Election Commission was biased, and that Kumar took decisions favoring the ruling establishment.
Congress’s Allegations
Reported Counterpoints
Legality of the SIR
Congress’s Allegations
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that changes connected to Form 6 were not brought before Parliament, making the SIR and related additions or deletions illegal.
Reported Counterpoints
The articles report Congress’s legal allegation but do not provide a response from the Election Commission of India or Gyanesh Kumar.
Election Commission conduct
Congress’s Allegations
Congress alleged that Gyanesh Kumar made unilateral decisions favoring the ruling establishment and acted on directions from the Centre.
Reported Counterpoints
The reported objections by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi are presented as evidence cited by Congress, but the articles do not establish independently that they prove misconduct.
Public support
Congress’s Allegations
Congress organized demonstrations across multiple states and said there was widespread outrage over the issue.
Reported Counterpoints
A separate report said the protests appeared largely to be Congress events, with little visible public participation and greater public concern about traffic disruption.
- Main demand
- Congress demanded the resignation or removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- SIR demand
- The party called for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls to be scrapped.
- Additional demands
- Congress leaders in some protests called for Kumar’s impeachment, prosecution and legal proceedings.
- Police response
- Police used water cannons in Jaipur and Bhopal and detained protesters in Surat.
- Other protest actions
- Congress workers burned effigies in Vijayawada and held marches and demonstrations in several other cities.
- Reported basis for allegations
- Congress cited an Indian Express report saying Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected repeatedly to certain SIR-related decisions and orders.
- Public participation
- One report described the protests as largely Congress-led, with little visible participation from the general public and concern about traffic disruption.
